BBC’s Young Apprentice kicks off the 2011 series just like any other. The difference is: the candidates are all about 16.

Are these young pretenders any better or any worse than the usual assortment of desperate hopefuls?

Skip the first 45 minutes if you have already seen incompetence at making and selling ice cream (this week’s task).

I recommend fast-forwarding to the Boardroom for a remarkable display of exaggeration and in-fighting; of economics and economy with the truth. Very much like the senior show in fact.

I hesitate to call the senior show “adult”. There is as much adult behaviour in this crew as their older counterparts demonstrate, more so perhaps!

Striking was their ability to present themselves well. Especially team leader Harry H.

Harry possesses a composure worthy of someone 20 years older. Stepping up to team leader, but losing, he survived the Boardroom experience intact. I don’t underestimate just how stressful the “firing sequence” is for anyone.

The girls won because they overpriced the boys. In the quest for profit, their far greater margin pipped the boys’ result, whilst James-the-Economist McCullagh failed to understand the economics of pricing ice creams at the start of a hot day.

James also managed to annoy Lord Sugar on Week 1. No mean achievement.

But Mahamed Awale was the fall guy in the end. I sensed he never made an impression on his team, his voice not really being heard. It says as much about them as it does about him.

Lord Sugar gives the impression he is less cynical about these folk as compared with candidates on the older version of the show. It is certainly impressive to hear of their talents.

But the character traits, ok flaws, are just the same as far as I can see.

Don’t underestimate the young.

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About drstevelewis

Good leadership is essential for any project to succeed. I specialise in the most difficult leadership challenges; those involving the way we relate to other people or the way they relate to us. With a background of many years in business and an earlier training in medicine I combine the two in a unique consultancy.